Belly Up to the Bar With Bendy and Her Friendies!!! Button Pics & New Thread Started!

[ChelleinNC]

I'd be trying to wangle an invitation to your house for Easter dinner based on that menu I'm just making a small turkey because Safeway had them on sale and I want to keep it low calorie. Down 25# and don't want to blow it over Easter weekend because I'm so tired of losing the same 5 pounds. All it takes is one day of "normal eating" and it can set me back a week.

Our tradition is a Sunday Easter brunch where Mom makes her fabulous German Muesli and potato pancakes. I'll be trying the recipe for Breakfast Pizza from Chef Mickey's and my sister (former professional pastry chef) brings the desert.

Come on over There's always enough for one more

 

[Tink rules]

Oooooooh .... a Panama Canal cruise on the Wonder? We've never sailed on the Wonder and we'd love to take a PC cruise. Hmmmmmm,

Consider it... but be ware... they are planning it for 1st quarter 2011 when the new ship comes in... Possibly Feb-April 2011... so that means maybe putting off the repo??? Its definately a great cruise... we had a blast... great weather... and more ports...

Almost EVERYONE that is on our thread still - over 40 of us or so... have already "signed" on... including one little green furry butt... (gee... he seemed to be on the top of the list somehow...)

I AM already objecting to Joey Fatone being any kind of entertainment on the ship... he bombed last time... and I'm writing to DCL to request someone else (on the others they've had Linda Eder, Jim Brickman, Boyz2men..... AND... we were SUPPOSED to have DONNY OSMOND but he had a family emergency thus Joey was there...)

If you get in first day and get an inside cabin it's not too bad... I think someone paid about $3500 and that was for 15 nights for 2 people... I won't even TELL you what I paid last minute for a Cat 5...

 

[oybolshoi]

If it's first quarter of 2011 then forget it ... Jay can't usually take time off from work until April anyway. We'll just stick with our plan to visit Disneyland during their F&W festival instead.

We'd have been all over a late summer Eastern Repo through the canal, especially on the Wonder since we've never sailed on that ship.

 

[Tink rules]

Well, we will keep you informed... in the mean time... the little green furry butt will represent you at the Champagne tasting ... tiara and all... Got some Rosa anyone???

 

[oybolshoi]

heh heh heh ...

I ordered this tiramisu cake for my parents' birthdays ... we picked it up this afternoon and Jay and I were both underwhelmed by the birthday decoration. When I ordered it the lady on the phone said "Oh, we'll put a birthday ribbon on there and it will look really festive."

I guess I watch Food Network too much or I need to lower my standards.

They cut a single band of purple ribbon in half ... wrote Happy in icing on one piece and Birthday on the other piece and stuck 'em on top of the cake.

I was picturing a round edible medallion (maybe chocolate) that would have been partially embedded in the top of the cake with Happy Birthday written on it and multicolored ribbon curls cascading across and down the side of the cake.

Wait until you guys see this ... I'm sure it tastes great (it damn well better) but the "decor" is really pitiful. Only when I try to do something nice for Grimace does stuff like this happen. Thank goodness I've got colorful candles to liven things up.

 

[Tink rules]

Ohhh you know Grimmy... stick a lottery ticket in it and she'll love it... get a birthday one... they have them don't the???

 

[Tatania]

A random spelling error I can forgive, it's easy to do when posting, but poor grammar and reviews that consist of, "We ate at ----- last night and loved it; you will too ... " make me run screaming from the thread faster than you can say, "We're out of beer."

I love to look at pictures of people's food but for a review I want to know about everything ... who, what, when, where, why, and how??? Blame it on a history professor in college who told me that these were the questions I should always seek to answer when writing anything in her class. That conversation stuck in my head so strongly that I use it at work when underwriting commercial loan requests ... it drives the lenders crazy but they'll also admit that I'm the best in the department at what I do because of it.

So, just remember when staring down your computer screen at a particularly bland or poorly written food review to ask yourself, "WWBD?"
What Would Bendy Do?

And THAT is why I love reading the things you write. I will be asking myself WWBD many, many times in the next months as, having passed all the interviews and written requirements, will be an Enrichment Speaker on Independence of the Seas from Sept. 2 - 12. They start you off with 1 cruise and if you get "excellent" feedback - and it HAS to be "excellent" - then you get your choice of a lot of bookings. The contract is so stringent that the ship has the right to set you off at the first port of call if your talk sucks. THAT has to be the ultimate humiliation
The irony of it all is, they don't want the PowerPoint talks I have ready to go (and have successfully used) on Culinary History. Instead they want 5 - 45" presentations read on the secondary topic I gave them - introduction to Opera and Classical music, and various composers.

I have no PowerPoint presentations for those and only the notes that I give when I lead my your groups to Europe so it means getting all about ready. Being funny isn't is extremely important according to the instructions I was given. So, Bendy if you're headed to Vancouver before September, you're invited to stay at our house if you can inject some humor into my talks. I'm just not very good at writing "funny".

Hmm - I wonder if the Disney Cruise lines would be interested in those talks further European cruises?

branv - I can tell from your beautiful photos that you are indeed a dyed-in-wool foodie. I've never been to Texas but imagined it served primarily steaks as big as your plate. Does Austen have all sorts of ethnic restaurants?

Briarmom - sounds like you like traveling as much as I do. Egypt has always been on my "want to do" list but somehow I've not made it yet - though I was next door in Israel. The only thing that puts me off going to Egypt now, are all the reports of the extreme harassment that tourists (especially single gals like me) experience from the street vendors. That kind of thing can really ruin your holiday.
Can't wait for your report on Tokyo Disneyland. If you eat anything that's really good, see you can get a recipe

Chelle - next time I'm in North Carolina, I'll be on your doorstep. My sister and I plus kids, toured the Carolinas last August and we loved it - especially the Great Smoky Mountains. What a beautiful place.

 

[oybolshoi]

And THAT is why I love reading the things you write. I will be asking myself WWBD many, many times in the next months as, having passed all the interviews and written requirements, will be an Enrichment Speaker on Independence of the Seas from Sept. 2 - 12. They start you off with 1 cruise and if you get "excellent" feedback - and it HAS to be "excellent" - then you get your choice of a lot of bookings. The contract is so stringent that the ship has the right to set you off at the first port of call if your talk sucks. THAT has to be the ultimate humiliation
The irony of it all is, they don't want the PowerPoint talks I have ready to go (and have successfully used) on Culinary History. Instead they want 5 - 45" presentations read on the secondary topic I gave them - introduction to Opera and Classical music, and various composers.

I have no PowerPoint presentations for those and only the notes that I give when I lead my your groups to Europe so it means getting all about ready. Being funny isn't is extremely important according to the instructions I was given. So, Bendy if you're headed to Vancouver before September, you're invited to stay at our house if you can inject some humor into my talks. I'm just not very good at writing "funny".

Hmm - I wonder if the Disney Cruise lines would be interested in those talks further European cruises?

First off ... congratulations!

Secondly, I'm sure you're going to be terrific!

And on a third note ... I don't know how to be funny about opera and classical music. Actually I know squat about opera (well, that's not entirely true ... I like plenty of operas as long as there isn't any singing involved).

Do you think you could find a way to incorporate food into your opera / classical music talks? Like the best Italian meal to serve while listening to Puccini or Mozart's favorite alcoholic beverage or Wagner's sausage preference?

uh-oh ... that last one sounds kind of naughty ... be careful!

 

[oybolshoi]

Actually ... if Wagner was batting for the other team you could have a lot of fun with it but you'd probably get kicked off the ship, too.

I can see it now ...

"As for Wagner ... he ate his share of weiners that day, let me tell you. Oh, it was a gay old time!"



Edited to say: I have to give credit where credit is due - I took that quote from the Simpsons. It was something Mr. Burns said in an interview, except for the part about Wagner. ;-)

 

[TDC Nala]

I think that's the kind of stuff that got Bob Saget kicked off the first Panama Canal repo.

 

[oybolshoi]

I think that's the kind of stuff that got Bob Saget kicked off the first Panama Canal repo.

I've heard he talks like a crusty sailor in his stand-up routines. I guess he's trying to get away from the stigma of Full House.

 

[TDC Nala]

Bob Saget will probably never be entertainment on a Disney ship again. Actually I didn't think his routine was all that bad but the scuttlebut was that there were apparently numerous complaints.

 

[whogirl'smom]

Briarmom, I've meant to ask you for two days what Oreo salad is? It sounds right up my alley!

Brenda, if you really want to perk up Grimmy and Jon's b'day cake--go to your nearest grocery store bakery and they will sell you the topper kits separately for any cake they make. Wouldn't it be funny if they have a gambling one?? (probably a good chance of it...)

And, look, I'm so proud...I figured out how to do a ticker!! Now I'll know down to the day how long I have to wait for this trip!

 

[oybolshoi]

Actually I forgot a couple of things at the grocery store and am on my way out in a few minutes. Thanks for the idea, Jamie! If nothing else I'll just buy a couple of mini-balloons and jam 'em into the cake.

 

[oybolshoi]

Floating Flower thingies in the lagoon under the monorail line and outside the odyssey ... I remember hearing that these were actually tires that had been filled with flowers and then set loose to floatingly beautify the waters of Epcot.

Floating Flowers

More topiaries!

Belle & Beast

Snow White and ... a dwarf?

This was one of our favorite Festival decorations ... they carpeted the gentle slope leading to the lagoon with flowers in varying patterns ... I've got more pictures somewhere along the way but this provides a first glimpse.

Pretty!

The butterfly house from the outside ...

More pretty!

Topiary perfume bottles in France!

So cute!

Flowers...Fountains...France!

We love topiaries!

 

[oybolshoi]

Plankton hits up the gardens ...

Pirate Goofy!

This next picture is a little disturbing ... we think it's Mickey only partially covered with ivy. Whatever it is ... it's creepy!

How about a hug?

 

[OurDogCisco]

Brenda... your Topiaries pictures are beautiful....

I also wanted to mention any time you need to fill an extra seat at your "holiday" dinner table just let me know... You have great taste in food. I had forgotten all about Dean & Deluca until you mentioned it. I live within one hour of one. And, I haven't been in ages probably since before kids. LOL... Kids do that too you. But I could name all the Kraft Mac & Cheese flavors for you. Thanks for sharing...

Tina

 

[oybolshoi]

Brenda... your Topiaries pictures are beautiful....

I also wanted to mention any time you need to fill an extra seat at your "holiday" dinner table just let me know... You have great taste in food. I had forgotten all about Dean & Deluca until you mentioned it. I live within one hour of one. And, I haven't been in ages probably since before kids. LOL... Kids do that too you. But I could name all the Kraft Mac & Cheese flavors for you. Thanks for sharing...

Tina

Thanks Tina - I'd forgotten how nice some of our picture turned out from this trip.

As for dinner ... any time you're in Stinktown, let us know! I'm so jealous that you can actually go to a Dean & Deluca store. The nearest one that I know of is Overland Park, Kansas ... and I only know it's there because we have a branch in OP and I sometimes travel there for work.

 

[TigerKat]

Bendy - Thanks for posting the lovely pics. I've been feeling a bit down today and they made me smile.

 

[oybolshoi]

Bendy - Thanks for posting the lovely pics. I've been feeling a bit down today and they made me smile.

Glad you enjoyed them and I hope you feel more yourself soon.